Carlos Sainz's second day at the helm of the Williams FW45 in Barcelona has been all about fine-tuning.
The focus has been on adjusting the sensitivity of the controls, automating steering wheel functions, and identifying potential enhancements for the upcoming FW47, set to debut in just two weeks.
Sainz’s journey with Williams began in January with several visits to the team’s Grove factory. He is scheduled to return two or three more times in February before the pre-season testing in Bahrain on the 26th, 27th, and 28th.
According to MARCA, Sainz feels highly motivated because, despite areas needing improvement, Williams has clear, budgeted plans to tackle these issues.
“The enthusiasm within the team is palpable,” Sainz said, highlighting the mutual respect and cooperation between him and the team.
“Everyone is eager to listen and incorporate my feedback, which is vital for our progression.”
In contrast to last year, when Williams struggled with chassis readiness and weight issues at the Australian Grand Prix, this season looks more promising.
“We’re ahead of where we were last year,” Sainz has said, confirming that the new FW47 will meet both weight and readiness targets for Bahrain.
However, Sainz remains realistic about the team’s prospects for 2025. “Victories might not be on the cards this year, but the midfield battle with teams like Aston Martin, Alpine, and Haas is where we’re aiming to make an impact,” he explained.
The objective is to secure points regularly, building on last year’s performance where they managed this on some tracks.
While podiums are not the primary goal, Sainz hasn’t ruled them out completely, especially under specific conditions like unpredictable weather.
“We’ve seen surprises with teams like Alpine in recent years; anything can happen in Formula 1,” he noted.
As the Formula 1 season kicks off with the Australian Grand Prix on March 16, 2025, at the Albert Park circuit, all eyes will be on Williams to see if Sainz’s optimism translates into on-track success.
